More than 100 people protested against plans for a sewage treatment works in Cornwall when councillors visited a proposed plant site.

The site is listed in proposals by South West Water (SWW) for a new treatment works near Boscastle.

Protesters said the plans would result in three plants within a 3 mile (4.8km) stretch of land because of treatment plans for other nearby areas.

SWW said the site was right and the works were essential.

Separate treatments

The company is trying to improve sewage treatment for Boscastle, Bossiney and Tintagel.

It said there would a mix of preliminary, primary and secondary treatment at the three sites, but some people want a complete rethink.

Graham King from Boscastle's sewage liaison group said: "We feel that having three separate sewage treatment plants within three miles of coastline is too much.

"We feel that SWW haven't properly examined the possibilities of having one site, one outfall for all three areas, all three villages."

The plans for the secondary plant at Hillsborough Farm near Boscastle have also run into opposition from the National Trust, which owns the land.

Ian Kemp from the Trust said: "Whilst we don't want to be obstructive to the desire to get a treatment plant scheme somewhere in Boscastle, we're not convinced that this is the right site and this is the right scheme."

'Silent majority'

Keith Field of SWW said: "Sewage treatment works are an essential part of living but nobody wants them near to their community, so we've had this extensive search for a site.

"We believe we've found a suitable site for Boscastle at Hillsborough."

He added that some of the "silent majority" of supporters of the scheme also had the chance to meet with councillors at the site on Wednesday.

Planners for Cornwall County Council will make the decision as to whether the Boscastle plans will go ahead.

A public inquiry is to be held into the plans for Bossiney and Tintagel.